PSSA 2007 - Individual Category Award Winner

Mrs Sandra Berrick

For the past 25 years, Mrs Sandra Berrick has tirelessly volunteered her time, professional expertise and talents to serve the community through various organisations, such as Gracehaven Salvation Army Children's Home, Dover Park Hospice and Spastic Children's Association. Mrs Berrick is a role model not only for the locals, but also for expatriates like herself. For her, 'home' is where you live and where you share your 'heart', and is not defined by the passport you hold.

The turning point in Mrs Berrick's life came in 1994 when she lost her youngest child, Hamilton, aged seven, to cancer. This inspired Mrs Berrick to devote her time and expertise to volunteer work.

Mrs Berrick has been with the Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA) since 1982, and served on various committees and board positions, including Vice-President from 2000 to 2003. At AWWA, she had championed for numerous worthy causes, such as the development of Singapore's Special Education in 1982. She was also involved in the setting up of pilot projects, which have since become government-funded programmes. They are: Project Challenge and First Challenge - the TEACH approach to Autism education; AWWA SMILES - the first before-and-after school care programme for disabled children and EIPIC - early intervention for infants and young children. She also advocated for compulsory education and Edusave to be made applicable to children with special needs.

In recognition of her expertise and professional knowledge, Mrs Berrick has been invited by various Voluntary Welfare Organisations to kickstart their new programmes and improve existing ones. She has also been invited by the National Council of Social Service to share her expertise on its Services Advisory Panel.

Her commitment to help the less fortunate shines through in more ways than one. For over 12 years, Mrs Berrick has been a tutor and friend to two children with disability. She even 'adopted' their families and continues to give support and friendship to the children even after they have finished schooling. Her dedication has helped one child and her sister to complete their tertiary education, and the other child to be supported through many difficult times, medical interventions, learning needs and behaviour crises.

Mrs Berrick has donated generously to several causes such as befriending services for AWWA TEACH ME and the construction of AWWA's ACCESS Building in 2005.

Not surprisingly, being a volunteer dedicated to serving others and the community has become Mrs Berrick's 'career'.

Other PSSA 2007 winners: